Definition
Introduction to Incident Handling is the structured process organizations use to prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents. It involves establishing clear procedures and roles to minimize damage, restore normal operations, and learn from security breaches. This systematic approach is crucial for maintaining business continuity and protecting sensitive data. For instance, a company might have a plan to isolate an infected network segment, analyze the malware, and then restore systems from clean backups. While often confused with general disaster recovery, incident handling specifically focuses on the immediate response to security events. This foundational concept is tested on certifications like CompTIA Security+, CySA+, and CISSP.